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"Be the person your dog thinks you are." ~Unknown.We welcome comments. Supportive feedback is what we enjoy most, but tips for improvement are valued too. It’s not required that you agree with us, only that you express your opinion civilly. Comments are moderated and will be posted following review. Read more.

Entries from November 2011

November 30, 2011

While we did not meet our adoption goal last week, we are happy to report that 42 pets – 22 dogs and 20 cats – were united with loving homes. That's great work by all of our adoption team members who help homeless pets in our care meet their match and also take great joy in helping visitors to our center find just the right pet who will be a good fit for their personality and lifestyle. If you haven't yet taken our interactive Meet Your Match survey, now's a great time to take this first step toward finding your soul mate!

This week, our adoption goal is to place 73 pets. Help save lives by visiting our Robins-Starr Humane Center to adopt or by being an ambassador for adoption and spreading the word to friends and family about the wonderful pets here in need of permanent homes.

Off-site adoptions:Our Tail Wag'N will be at Richmond's Grand Illumination downtown in the Shockoe Design District this Friday, Dec. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m.

We will also be at the Willow Lawn Holiday Fest on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Adoption specials:Home for the Holidays December kicks off our “Home for the Holidays" special, featuring a discounted adoption fee of 50% on all adult cats six months and older.

To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

November 29, 2011

A story recently appeared in the news about an act of violence to an innocent animal so horrifying in its mercilessness that I could not even read the entire thing in one sitting. And, here is the most shocking part – this cold-hearted abuse was not committed by a dog fighter or a puppy miller but by a Harrisonburg police officer and the Harrisonburg Police Department is protecting him.

Here is the story. The evening of Nov. 11, a man saw a cat get hit by a car in Harrisonburg. He stopped and took the injured cat home with him. He said that, even though the cat was seriously injured, she was very gentle and sweet. He called the nearest emergency veterinary hospital, 30 miles away in Verona, Va., and was advised that he should call Harrisonburg Animal Control for a quicker response. As it was after hours, he was then instructed to call the police department. An officer was dispatched and arrived in about 30 minutes. The officer told him that there were two choices – the cat could be allowed to suffer and die or could be “put down.” It appears that taking the cat to a veterinarian for care was not even considered as an option by this cop. (Bear in mind that the cat had now survived her injuries for quite some time and it might have been possible for her life to have been saved.) The man said that he thought putting the cat down was preferable. He then went inside and, to his horror, saw, through the window, the cop remove his baton and then bludgeon the cat to death. He reported that it took 15 to 20 hits and the cop was so violent that blood was splattered everywhere and he even damaged the siding on the house. He was, as anyone would have been, sickened and dismayed by the cop’s brutality.

So, as if that is not enough to horrify and nauseate anyone, it gets even worse. The cop is now being protected by the Harrisonburg Police Department who says that it is an “internal matter” and will not release the name of the officer. Their spokesperson will not even confirm if any disciplinary action was taken. They do say that he acted in accordance with their regulations in using deadly force – although from my reading of their rules, I cannot see how they can justify this. They claim that they are reviewing their regulations, however, for possible revisions. Really? I would suggest that they need to review a lot more than their regulations – they need to review their ethics, compassion and sense of morality.

Then, the final stunner is that the local newspaper the Harrisonburg Daily News Record and several of the local TV news reports have actually said that the cop “euthanized” the cat by beating her to death with a night stick. How could anyone ever use the word “euthanize” in such a totally offensive way? I see people in animal welfare all the time misuse the word “euthanize” as a way of relieving themselves of discomfort but surely we are not at a point when we use that word to refer to an act of intentional violence such as what this cop did.

There is so much that is deeply disturbing here. The most obvious thing is, of course, the cold-hearted and intentional brutality of the cop’s actions against a defenseless animal that presented no threat to him whatsoever. But, equally troubling is the attitude of the Police Department and the City of Harrisonburg that it is their right to keep the information from their citizens – the citizens who elect them and pay their salaries. One must wonder whether the cop who did the deed is the only one involved or if the instruction to brutalize the cat was given at a higher level and that is why the wall of defense has gone up.

And, lastly, where is the local news media in all this? I doubt very seriously that they have not been able to ascertain the identity of the cop who did this terrible thing. They certainly should if they are worth their salt as journalists. They also should be able to discover who made the decision to do such a horrible thing – was it the cop alone or someone else instructing him? It is the role of the news media to insure that the public gets the true facts and that governments are not allowed to hide behind secrecy in a pretense that it is an internal matter which most clearly it is not.

I sincerely hope that people in Harrisonburg will demand better from their city government and their Police Department and their local news media. The citizens of Harrisonburg, whether or not they love animals, must see the horrible issues that this matter raises about their police and their city government. It rests with the citizens to see that the Police Department’s efforts to withhold the facts are not tolerated and that steps are taken to protect both the animals and the people of their city from more such violence being perpetrated by the very people who are supposed to protect them. A lack of transparency and a lack of accountability is never a healthy thing for any community. Justice Brandeis quite correctly said that “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.” In Harrisonburg, both the people and the animals have a great deal to fear from the very people whom they should be able to trust. Some sunlight on these horrifying facts would go a long way toward making their community more compassionate in the future for both people and animals.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

November 17, 2011

A few weeks ago, every animal lover in our community was stunned and horrified to see four of the five members of the Henrico County Board of Zoning Appeals tell Susan Mills that she could no longer care for a small group of feral cats that she had been caring for without incident for many years. Many of you asked us what would be next in our efforts to protect these cats. Today, we are announcing our next steps to protect innocent animals in Henrico from this irrational and callous decision of the Board.

Jack Robb and Will Shewmake of the law firm of LeclairRyan have agreed to appeal this ruling for Susan Mills to the Henrico County Circuit Court and we are deeply grateful to them for their wonderful generosity and concern for the compassionate treatment of animals in our community. We believe that the ruling of the Board of Zoning Appeals is neither logical nor rationally enforceable nor humane. We expect that a judge will see this clearly on appeal and that the decision of the Board will be reversed. We intend to do everything in our power to assist Messrs. Robb and Shewmake in achieving this outcome and to protect the lives of these innocent animals, not to mention those of so many other feral cats in Henrico whose futures are threatened by the Board’s ruling.

We are distributing yard signs to residents of Henrico who want to make clear that they care about animals and want to see feral cats treated with compassion and respect for their lives. The yard signs say “Henrico Can’t Tell Me Not To Care” and provide a link to the page on our website that is dedicated to saving these cats. The words are a reference to the “violation” issued by the county to Ms. Mills which said that “caring for feral cats” in R-4 zoning is prohibited. Please put one in your yard if you live in Henrico and help us to get them placed in as many yards as possible around the county. They will send a powerful message to the county.

The decision of the Board of Zoning Appeals reflected ignorance about feral cats and an irrational and callous approach to their treatment. It also created a ruling that is not susceptible of logical enforcement and that demands that people behave in an inhumane fashion. I do not believe that the citizens of Henrico will put up with being told that they may not feed and care for innocent animals on their own private property. One of the worst things any government can do is demand that its citizens behave in a way that they find to be cruel and unethical. We live in a country that was founded on ethical principles and people will not comply with rules that require them to depart from their own ethical framework. As this matter unfolds, all of us who love animals, and everyone who just believes in decency and kindness, must make clear to the Henrico County government that we expect its behavior and the rules that it prescribes for its people to reflect a code of ethics that its citizens can and should embrace. We will stand up to Henrico, or any other government that does otherwise, because it is our responsibility to protect the animals and ensure that our community is humane.

Henrico residents can visit our center starting today, Nov. 17, to obtain yard signs to show their support and distribute to fellow animal lovers. We will keep you posted as this matter progresses and let you know how you can continue to help. The enormous supportive response that Ms. Mills has gotten from people all over this community who are appalled at the decision of the Board of Zoning Appeals has been wonderful. It is crucial for all of us to continue to work together to send a strong message to Henrico that we will not be ordered to stop caring for the animals we love.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

November 15, 2011

On June 25, 2010, the Richmond SPCA anxiously awaited the arrival of nine Chihuahuas from the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA in California. Our veterinary staff and animal care technicians stood on our back loading dock ready to spring into action the moment the animal transport van returned from the airport. We looked forward to taking these pets into our care and readying them for new, loving homes with families in our community. This was the first of many “Great Chihuahua Air Lift” rescue operations that would bring us more than 10 flights of pets looking for a second chance and a permanent home on the other side of the country. Since that first transport and the unloading of the first adorable dog, the Richmond community has fallen in love with and opened their hearts and homes to 135 Chihuahuas and other small dogs from the Golden State.

We named the first dog from that first transport “Pasadena” in honor of her home town, and she was an instant media darling. Pasadena and the other dogs on the “Great Chihuahua Airlift” were greeted by news crews from local TV stations as well as a reporter and photographer from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The evening of her arrival, she accompanied our CEO Robin Robertson Starr to WTVR CBS 6 for a live interview, where she caught the eyes of assignment editor Raymond Hawkes. It was love at first sight, and she became a member of Raymond’s family only a few days later. We were delighted to see her again last March when she participated in our Dog Jog and 5K Run (although she was carried for much of the 1-mile course).

The staff of the Richmond SPCA have not been immune to Chihuahua charms, as we have fallen in love with each of these wonderful companions that have flown thousands of miles to be guaranteed a bright and happy future.

Jessa, a member of our Veterinary Services team, fell in love with a blond Chihuahua mix we named Santa Monica. Now named Buckley, this precious pup accompanies Jessa to our Robins-Starr Humane Center on a nearly daily basis. She can often be found lounging in the treatment area while her mom administers medications to pets recovering from illness. She, like all the others, has met her perfect match.

After several airlifts, I, too, fell for a Chihuahua mix the moment I laid eyes on him at our center. I had assisted with the arrival of multiple flights of Pasadena dogs, and was always excited to get each little dog settled into our shelter before uniting them with adoptive families. This was the first time I considered adding to my own “pack.” The second I met Charlie, I knew he and I were meant to be together. I adopted the little fella, and now he is my constant companion.

The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA recently asked us to transfer from them more dogs this holiday season, and we look forward to this lifesaving work. Transports are expected on Dec. 2, 9 and 16, and we anticipate the dogs will be available within days of their arrival at our center.

Irresponsible breeding in California at the height of these dogs’ popularity far outpaced demand, and small dogs in need of homes overwhelm shelters like the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA. Our partnership has not only saved these dogs’ lives but brought the joy of companionship to adopters who in many cases had searched area shelters for small dogs in need of good homes. That’s a perfect match!

Laura Palin is the manager of admissions at the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

November 14, 2011

What a great week for our adoption center! Our staff and volunteers worked to place 86 pets in loving homes. That’s 30 dogs and 56 cats adopted in the last week. Our goal for the week ahead is 77 adoptions. Please share, visit and encourage friends to make the Richmond SPCA their first stop when looking for their next pet.

Adoption specials:During the month of November, we have two terrific weekly adoption specials! On Two-for-Tuesdays, it's better with a buddy – take home any two loving companions for a single low adoption fee. And every Thursday in November is Furry Furs'day, when you'll enjoy 25% off all adoption fees.

To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

November 10, 2011

It may be hard to spell and difficult to pronounce, but Treibball is a great way to train and spend time with your dog! Developed in Germany, Treibball (correctly pronounced "Try-Ball") is a sport that combines intensive training, team work and cooperation. The ultimate goal is to have your dog move a group of large balls, placed at various points around the room, into a net behind you, using only their muzzle. And while the final result may appear flawless, the sport of Treiball takes dedication and a lot of practice. If you're interested in enrolling in the beginner's class, watch the video below to get a short introduction to the training process, as narrated by trainer Donna Anderson:

Eric Steigleder is the community relations coordinator at the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

November 09, 2011

Editor's note: Swiss was a long-term resident of the Richmond SPCA who finally found her home last week. She was included in this week's Adoption Center News, but we wanted to give you a more detailed update from her new family.

Elphie (short for Elphaba) is settling in very well! Her new name comes from the musical Wicked (she's named after the misunderstood "wicked" witch).

She has her own room as long as she needs it to get used to coexisting with other creatures. Other cats in the family break in frequently to visit her, which she doesn't mind too much (they keep their distance; they're just curious). She's met one dog, who she gave a good hiss; the dog backed off, and all was well after that.

She's eating really well and using her little box. She loves napping in her various beds or with whichever person comes to see her for a nap. She is super playful and loves making a toy out of anything and everything! She comes when she's called and loves to interact with us, be it while getting petted, playing with a toy, or talking – she chirps and meows to us all the time! As you can see, she can't get enough of watching the world go by outside of her big windows.

We're SO happy to have her and to see her so happy! We're excited for her to get completely comfy and venture out of her comfort zone. We'll update you with her progress!

Thanks to the Beckners for giving Elphie the forever home she has been waiting for so long! To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

November 08, 2011

In the past week, 63 pets have found loving new homes through our adoption center. That’s 33 dogs and 30 cats!

Our goal this week is 69 adoptions! Help save lives by visiting our Robins-Starr Humane Center to adopt or by being an ambassador for adoption and spreading the word to friends and family about the wonderful pets here in need of permanent homes.

Off-site adoptions:Our Tail Wag'N will be at PetSmart in Short Pump for National Adoption Weekend this Saturday, Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Adoption Specials:Take advantage of a limited-time feline adoption special through Wednesday, Nov. 9. Adoption fees for all cats and kittens are reduced to only $25! Spread the word about this offer and help us find homes for deserving cats and kittens. This special cannot be combined with any other offers, promotions or discounts.

During the month of November, we have two terrific weekly adoption specials! On Two-for-Tuesdays, it's better with a buddy – take home any two loving companions for a single low adoption fee. And every Thursday in November is Furry Furs'day, when you'll enjoy 25% off all adoption fees.

To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

November 04, 2011

I adopted "Grady," who is now "Asa," 4 years ago and "Zena," who is now "Bea," last March. Asa has been a sweet heart since day one and Bea is an absolute DOLL. We are so in love with our little pit bull!

I came to the Richmond SPCA last March looking for a little dog. I walked down the aisle – looking at all of the wonderful dogs – and immediately my eyes landed on Bea (then Zena).The little pit bull with the black spots had just had a litter of puppies. I had never intended on getting a pit bull; however, I will forever be a fan since adopting Bea. She is smart, sweet, loving, and I think more person than dog.

She and Asa are best friends, and she loves her cat siblings as well. The only issue is that she insists on sleeping under the blankets, burrowing under armpits of various sizes and snores like a freight train. You also have to be patient with her unwillingness to get up in the morning!

She and Asa are wonderful, and I thank you for saving them.

Thanks to Anne Brennan and her family for giving Bea and Asa a wonderful home and for submittting this update. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

Was there something about the pet who captured your heart that was completely unexpected? Share your story in the comments.

November 03, 2011

This past Saturday, Geraldine Thornton celebrated her 30-year anniversary as an employee with the Richmond SPCA. The longest serving member of our staff, Geraldine is known throughout these halls as a hard worker, a knowledgeable animal care advocate, and a true lover of pets. Following high school, Geraldine (known to everyone here as “Ms. Gee”) was interested in pursuing a career working with animals. While everyone else she encountered was looking for work in the business world, Geraldine’s love of dogs and cats and her talent for working with them led her to take a job at the Richmond SPCA. And here she has stayed! Our staff and volunteers are so thankful for her many years of service, and we’re looking forward to celebrating many more anniversaries with Ms. Gee!